Door structure



J. T. MODLOFF Feb. 11, 1958 DOOR STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 3, 1955 N l .ff-f@ MV, M, wf

Feb- M, 1858 .1. T. M'ODLOFF 2,822,899

DOOR STRUCTURE` Filed Nov. 3, -1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 HUI glu/ 10 N l T a W @MMM/M 'f MM DOOR STRUCTURE Jay T. Modlofr, De Kalb, Ill., assignor to De Kalb Co m mercial Body Corporation, De Kalb, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application November 3, 1955, Serial No. 544,750

4 Claims. (Cl. 189-46) This invention relates to door structure wherein a door swings a slight amount on a hinge arrangement and then slides longitudinally in the manner of a sliding door to uncover a door opening. In other words, the action of a door embodying the invention combines to some extent the respective actions of hinged and sliding doors.

One object of the invention is to provide a hinged, sliding door which is particularly suitable for use in refrigerated vehicles. Such a door, for example, may be used advantageously in the limited space between the drivers compartment and the storage area of a refrigerated truck. The door of the invention, however, also may be used to advantage in other applications, such as the door of a walk-in cooler or as a fire door.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a door which may be opened and closed frequently without loss of appreciable time. This feature is of importance in the case of delivery vehicles wherein the door must be opened and closed many times during a work period.

Another object of the invention is to provide a door of this character which may be opened and closed easily, thereby conserving the energy of the operator. A-door constructed in accordance with this invention is subject to operation by one hand and in effect by one movement of the hand and arm of an operator.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a door of this character which when closed has a pressure tight seal with the jambs, header and threshold of the doorway. n

Another object of the invention is to provide a pressure sealed door wherein door opening and closing are accomplished without undue frictional wear on any of the door fixtures.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a door which for operation requires a minimum of door clearance space on the side of the doorway toward which the door opens.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a door of this character wherein there are no door fixtures on the oor leading to the doorway. As is Well known, floor fixtures are subject to damage by cargo, mud, snow, ice or the like. To accomplish this object door fixtures are utilized which suspend the door from above. 4

Other objects, advantages and features of the invention will appear as the description proceeds, reference being had to the accompanying -drawings wherein one form of the invention is shown. It is to be understood that the description and drawings are illustrative only and that the scope of the invention is measured by the yappended claims.

- In thedrawings:

Fig. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic top view of door structure embodying the invention, an intermediate position of the door `being shown in dotted line;

Fig. 2 is a front` elevational view of the door structure shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an end `elevational view of the door structure Shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

nited States Patent O f' 2,822,899y Patented rgb. 11, s

'2 Fig. 4 is an enlarged view, partly in section, of afixture forming part of the invention, the view being vtaken generally on line 4-,4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 5 5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged elevational view of a sliding hinge fixture used in the invention;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view on line 7--7 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of another fixture, namely a guide track, which forms part of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, door structure embodying the invention is shown installed in a refrigerator generally designated 10. Refrigerator 10 may be the load portion of a refrigerated truck, and the door structure may lead into the drivers compartment of the truck at the forward end of the load portion. It will be understood that the space limitations in such location preclude the use of a conventional swinging door, particularly if a large doorway is required.

Doorway 11 (Fig. l) is defined Iby a pair of spaced jambs 12 and 13, a header 14 (Fig. 2) and a floor or threshold 15. A wall 17 extends laterally away from jamb 13 in the plane of -doorway 11, as best shown in Fig. 1.

Doorway 11 normally is closed by a door 20 which has both hinged and sliding action, as will be seen.

Door 20 is closed in a pressure tight, sealed manner by means of more or less conventional latch structure 21, the latch structure having an actuator 22 of the type commonly used on refrigerator doors. is operable by one hand. Latch structure 21, as shown in Fig. l of the illustrated form of the invention, is associated with doorway jamb 12 and the left hand side of door 20.

A resilient sealing element 24 extends along jamb 12 and a similar sealing element 25 extends along jamb 13. Other sealing elements 26 and 26a extend along header 14 and threshold 15, respectively (Fig. 3). Door 20, when latched, bears in a pressurized manner against these resilient sealing elements.

Wall 17 is provided with track means such as a pair of vertically spaced, horizontal tracks 27 and 28. The two tracks may have the same structure, and as best shown in Fig. 7, track 28 may comprise a strip 29 secured to wall 17 and a rail 30 secured to strip 29. The upper edge of rail 30 extends somewhat above'the upper edge of strip 29 and it is spaced from wall 17 by the thickness of strip 29. Strip 29 and rail 30 are shown secured in position by means such as screws 31.

Still referring to Fig. 7, a sliding member 33 cooperates with each of the horizontal tracks. As here shown, a sliding member 33 includes an inverted U-shape bracket 34 and a pair of grooved rollers 35 mounted for rotation4 in the bracket. The grooved rollers of course ride on a rail 30 and the member 33 is vslidable along the rail.

A hinge 37y is secured to each sliding member 33 as best shown in Figs. 6 and 7. One hinge piece, namely plate 38, is fastened as by welding to sliding member 33 and the other hinge piece, namely plate 39, s-connected to door 20, as will be seen. Thus, sliding member 33 and hinge 37, one on each horizontal track, comprise a sliding, hinge means which connects door 20 with wall 17. The sliding,y hinge means are adjacent doorway jamb 13 when vthe door is closed, as shown in Fig. l.

Hinges 37 are secured to door 20 as shown in Figs.- 1-3, thus enabling the door `to swing outwardly on the hinges and slide longitudinally on the sliding means 33A which engage the tracks 27 and 28.

A large part of the weight of door 20 is supported byl a guide track 40 which is shown in perspective in Fig. 8. Guide track 40 is suitably mounted on doorway header 14 Such an actuator as Vbestvshown `in Figs. 2 -and f 3. rThe functionofguide track 40 is two-fold. As previously mentioned, it supports a substantial part of the weight of door 20.4 In additionfitlserves as las guide tofliniit fthefextehti to which door 20; may' beswun'glropenlon*y hing'er'ri'eansr'l. This extent may be the minimum-required fforldoorZO to clear its-sealing'elementsandithusbeifree Ifor Sliding action. Y ,i

Guide track 40 as here Yillustrated(Figf 8)}inc'lud'es=a plate"41 *whichrissecured to`-headerl14fand a generally triangular plate 42 secured at right angles to 'mount 'ing plate-41. Af'plurality Of bracesf43"may` reinforce the connection v between -platesv `41 and i42,1the Abraces terminating an appreciable Idistancefwithin freeelongated-edge 44 of plate42.

Thetrack element of guide track- 40 comprises' aifstr'ip `45 extending continuously along the two major"ree-edges -o plate -V42. Theshort Adimension 'of1stripj451i'is generallylvertical.

`Strip45 'has a rninor portion li6-'whichy extendsy generally at right angles to plate V41gand lheader I14ori-which plate 41 is mounted. Strip45fcurves thi-dirglifsi'xtstan` tiaily a right angle at 47 and extends throughlmajorportion 43 ina direction whichis generallyiparal-lel'iwith piate 41 and header 14 on 4which'the'plateis mounted. Asherefshown, portions y46 and'4S- deviateeislig'ht'ly from the right angle and parallel relationships mentioned above, and -in fact portionr'48 has la:clistinctf.inclination withrespect to the direction'ofheaderdi. flhesediijeo tions are not critical `and appreciable latitude 'can she tolerated -inlthese respects. 'The i-riolinationsh'ou'friisisucli as to minimize the'clearance-requirdforldoor-opei'ation. if additional clearance `is -availablefportion 48 can `be Vmore nearly parallel Vto header'14.

Referring lnow LtofFigs. 4-aud5, therem'aining fixture forming part -ofthe invention -is tasuppo'rt and guided member generally designated 50. This memberp'asapre` viously mentioned,-supportsfroin abOVeasubS-tant'ialpart of the Weight of door 2i).

In the form illustrated, support and guided -inember550 includes ya plate-l adapted-to be `mounted*ondoor 20. Asshown in Fig. 42i, the top edged of door iuris-recessed in part to provide a vertical facefSZlto \vhich^platef51 is suitably -secured-as'by bolts-i525. Member 50 isrrioun'ted on face 52 near-)the-fsidefedge `of`door120 -whic'hisivings away? from doorway jani'b '-12, LAas best showniin Fig.' "1.

The body` of support'fan'd guided membereoornprises a generally C-shapeid bracket'SS having its'lo'wer portion 56 secured; to Vpiate51 -as*by^vvelding. vfI-ow'er-"p'ortioir356 has a'cyliridricalborewhich servesfa's a bearingS?, as will be tseen. i

A guided elementfsli'is carried-by bracket 55 lirijs-iich manner as tobe `guided byfstrip f45 ofguide 'track 40. As here shown, guided4 element 560 is a `two-'prongedfork member which `receives 'portion- 4S Jbetween its twoforks and'thus is guidedinrnove'rnenby the'jdirectionsbf strip Y45. -Guided element 60 is upwardly Jfacing iso as to receive'the downwardlyextendingstrip 45, and'it is mounted on bracket 55 in a swivel manner inbearing 57, element 60 having areduced portion lirwhichis received within bearing --57. The"swivlcharacteristic'of element 60 enables the kelement'to'rotateasisnecessary to follow the directions ofguide stp145- An anti-friction meansd'such :as aroller element is mounted in the upper portion of bracket "55, this 'means having the formiof a'rotatable'baii L6'5 in fthe illustrated form of the invention. "Rotatablefballis Y'.backedup by cooperating ball .bearings ldwhiczhserve'to minimize friction. Exposed' portions of "ball'g65ibea'r on horizontal plate 42 ofguide traektlfands'erve to support'tn'e'mber 50 and associated tloor 20'fro'ntjguid'etrack'40t f Referring to-Fig. l, whenld'oor A2i) lisilatche'diin 'closed arid sealed position fas `shown in full line, suppotfand guided memberSioc'cpi'es apcs'itionnea'r doorwayiamh I2. In "position guided element 60 "engages "minor/- lengthvportion 46 lof-guide strip 45 and ball 65 rides on plate 42 directly above.

To open door 20, latch structure 21 is actuated and the door swung open a limited amount on hinge means 37. This amount is determined by the length of portion 46 of strip 45, the member 50 vtraveling along this strip portion. At the end of portion 46 the strip turns through curve 47 and at thispointfthe sliding action of door 20 commences. vThe swivel mounting of guided element 60 permits-the elementto follow the curved strip 45. YFrom this poiiit on door 20 is opened in sliding manner, the sliding members` 33 traveling along tracks l27 and 28,. Because' of 'the*illustrated angulation of lmajor-'length portion 43 of strip 45withrespect to the plane of wall 17, there is minor hinge action during the sliding portion of the door opening action.

The initial swing of door 20 on hinge means 37 is justsutc'ientlto-ree 'door 2G from-@the various sealing elements, Fo'llWingsuch clearance door '20 is free to slide esily to `uncover-#thedooropening. inasmuch as both la'tral-s'ides' ofdoor 2) receive verticalsupport, rthe door-iswellbalancedfand subject to "being Vopened and closed lwith'a'rninimum of effort on the partv of the operator. EThe "various lcoordinated tracks and antifriction?f` le`rr`1ents insureI l'easywdoor operation.

-From `theia'bovewdescription it `is thought that the constructionf-ani advantages of my invention will be readily apparent to`tl1ose"1skilledl inY the' art. Various-,changes in detailimay-'be' maderwithoutdeparting from the spirit-or losing zthe'radvantages Iof -thef invention.

Having thusvdescfribedrnyinvention,what'l claim as new anddesire to secure rbypfl'setters yPatent-ris:

--1. In adoor-stiuetureihavingfa'doorway--headen a pair of spacedfjainbs; a'wallextjen'ding fromione of said jarnbs and a doforziplressureisealed'fto-said header fand jambs :A the combination-therewith ofl--a pair-of vertically spaced, horizontaletracks'on said'wall,,-a sliding member on each ofsaid tracksfiafhinge connecting each -siiding member with said door adjacent said one jamb, a door latch connecting-saidfdoor-fwithfthe otherjarnb to .establish the pressurefsealfawcontinuous guide track on saidl doorway header, said guide track -leading `away from said header adjacent said other jjarnb rand-thencurving through-substantially afright angle 'and 'extending in an inclined direction von a straight line toward said wall,and a support and guided member mounted on said door, said member having a load supporting 'anti-friction element engaging said guide track and a swivel guided element cooperating with said yguidetrack wherebys'aid door swings outwardly a limited distance to clear said jambs and'then slides longitudinally to `open the doorway.

2. In adoor Astructure'liavi vg adoorwaylh'ead'er, apair of spaced jambs, a wallextending from one'of said rjainbs anda door sealed to said heade'rand jambsz'the combination therewith of track means on said wall, sliding mea'ns on'sai'ditrack means'hingeine'ans connecting said sliding means'ivithfsaiddoradjacet said one ja'rnb, a door latch connectirigsaid'doorwith said other jainh, and a continuous g'uide'frieans lon said do'orway header, said guide means leading away fro'rnsaid header adjacent said other jamb and'the'n' curvingfthrough substantially a right angle and 'extending in'faifinclined.direction toward said wall, -and'a support n'd fguidedrne'riiber mounted on said door, said 'nier'n'be'r 'having a load supporting means engaging said guide Arri'eans"and'a guided element cooperating with said giiideirriaiis'wher'eby sa'i'd door 'swings outwardly a limited Ldistance fo vc'le'a'r'saiid jarribs and then slides longitudinally to open said doorway.

3. Cooperative door fixtures comprising a guide track adapted to lbe niourite'd'nla doorway header, said track having "a'rfst 4portion 'extending aminor distance -at about ,right angles 'tothe header 'and asec'ond portion extending from 'said iirst portionin a directiont'oward theheader, and asupport and guided member adapted to be'i'iioute'd 'n 'a"do'or, said "supportano guided member including a C-shaped bracket, an upwardly facing guidedl element mounted on said bracket and engaging said guide means engaging said guide track and serving to support track and a downwardly lfacing anti-friction element said member. mounted on said bracket and engaging said guide track.

4. Cooperative door fixtures comprising a guide track References cited in me nie of this patent ldapted to be mounted on a doorvcay header, said track 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS avlng a first portion extending a minor distance at about right angles to the header and a second portion extending 416,793 Manuel DCC- 10, 1889 :from said first portion in a direction toward the header, 903,405 RCkaballgh N0V- 10, 1908 and a support and guided member adapted to be mounted 1,442,942 GullCkSOIl J al1- 23, 1923 on a door, said support and guided member including 1() 2,170,870 Nichols Allg- 29, 1939 guided means engaging said guide track and anti-friction 

